DAY 0
I’m back in Marrakech. I’ve been dreaming about it for the entire 6 months since I left. Usually, I’d never go to the same spot I’ve been to before (especially twice in one year!), however, Morocco has completely stolen my heart and it doesn’t leave my mind for more than a day at a time. It’s interesting that a place can do that to you, almost like a person does.
My trip to get here wasn’t as simple as I’d prefer. I decided to come a day early because I got anxious, and while taking the train to the airport (destination JFK > MAD > RAK) an accident occurred and the train was stopped for hours. Not exactly the way you want a trip to start. I missed 5 possible flights that should have been easy to catch and got to JFK in time for one final flight to Europe. It went to London. Since there are so many flights to London each day, I got upgraded to Business Class, which is always wonderful for an overnight flight (albeit tough because you want to take advantage of all the perks and a 6 hour flight is too short to get dinner and a movie and sleep!) I knew once I got to Heathrow I would have to find a way to Gatwick Airport, the airport that has much cheaper and nonstop flights to Marrakech. After walking in circles, down a long path, buying a bus ticket, and missing a few busses, I grabbed one that someone told me would take me an hour over to Gatwick.
I got to Gatwick and bought a ticket to Marrakech in the lobby. A weird thing to buy a plane ticket inside the airport, have you done it? Would you EVER?! haha:) The airport is interesting and makes you go through a few rounds of security, and after quite a hassle of having 2 bags over 1, I talked my way onto the plane. Though I did forget that this airline, RyanAir, doesn’t even give water. I go back and forth if budget airlines are actually worth it. Still undecided.
I arrived in the dark in Marrakech, though I had hoped to be there early afternoon. After all of my rapid and unplanned travel, arriving at night was both incredible in that desert heat and a little frantic. I felt uneasy. I made it but things were a little off from (even my lack of) plans. Do you know what I mean?
Nevertheless, I was on my game. I raced to be the first in line for the, what I knew would be slow, passport control line. I speed-walked across the airport to get money out of the ATM, again realizing I actually had absolutely no backup if my card didn’t take. It did. My taxi man was waiting by the curb. WInning. With some Moroccan jams, he took me into the middle of the old medina and dropped me off at the edge of a street. In true fashion, I was handed off to another man who didn’t speak English. I followed him into the winding streets and we began the most incredible route to my riad. Zig, zag, zig, zag, zig, zag, on repeat, until I was actually a little frightened I was being taken to a spot I could NEVER find my way out of. We got to a door. Riad Essaada would be my home for my first half of the trip.
This man was the housekeeper. He made me Moroccan Mint tea, the first of a million glasses I would have on this trip. I quickly realized this was the way most riads operated, with a person on duty at all times. My previous stay in Marrakech has been at a private Airbnb and thus I was alone. Here, I didn’t know exactly what was protocol. He eventually took me up to my room on the terrace. YAY, THE TERRACE!! I had specifically picked the zebra room when I found this riad online. When I was younger I was obsessed with zebras and Africa (I also wanted to be African and have cornrows-just being honest people!) and once I saw there was a zebra room on the terrace, I was sold. Done deal.
Since I had absolutely 0 ideas how to leave this place and find my way back. I decided bedtime it was.
I was up for four hours last night. I woke up frantic and unsettled, knowing I was jetlagged but stressed everything wasn’t going perfectly. I almost walked outside my room to find wifi to get some external comfort (texting home), but, knew I needed to train myself to beat it from within. Here’s the process I took:
- THink of 5 people who probably have it worse off than me (usually 2 is sufficient), in terms of comfortability. I thought of my friend Julie hiking the Pacific Crest Trail along and the people hiking Mount Everest, spots where there is no escape or calls out.
- Naturally, #1 helps you remember what you do have going for you at the moment, so expand on it to think of all the current things you’re grateful for (could go on for a while.)
- With a more grounded, logical mind, think back to the original problem; why is it happening? Is it a fear, a reoccurring feeling, etc.? Mine wasn’t so much that I was along, but that I was afraid I wouldn’t accomplish what I came here to do, and what if I never do…
- The next step is: What’s something I can do tomorrow to conquer or get rid of this fear/problem? Usually, we’ve made our problem really huge when actually 1 small thing can turn it around in a positive direction. I thought of a daily plan of where to go, and decided on the subject I would test out painting.
Thoughts: Layers. There’s always something more to see; not just one layer, but multiple. Inside doorways, inside people, under scarves. What, who? How do we discover what’s inside others or ourselves? Do we pause to remember who we are, what our real purpose is? Are we living for the BIG picture stuff (love, relationships, moments of happiness) or do we allow the smaller things to act macho? (moods, negative thoughts, irritations, to-do lists on lists…) Pause in the face of things, then reach for the next level. Is it good or bad? Then reach for the next level – why? Can it be changed? How; right now?
At El Fenn, I read an interview with a man, Frederick. His life was fascinating and it made me interested in reading more bios and interviewing older people. He talked about going to Jackie Kennedy’s parties (and how she stayed in Bahia Palace when in Marrakech). And he was friends with the Princes and Sultans here and would drive from Rabat after work because the parties were fantastic here. It made me think of that lifestyle and how I can do anything and live how I want. And the differences we have by holding ourselves back, and what is available in the world to explore. Out with the PC Instagram and in with some good stuff.